The bodyguard receiving the call jolted and answered uncertainly, “Nothing, I think… I’ve only seen Mr. Lan Xi walking along the coast and occasionally saying a couple of words to people. But probably because of the language barrier, each conversation lasts less than thirty seconds.”
Less than thirty seconds…
So he’s just handing them a business card immediately?
The bodyguard continued reporting, “He ran into Oliver later too, but they barely spoke. Oliver actually avoided him.”
The bodyguard couldn’t figure it out. What else could possibly have gone wrong?
The thought had barely formed when his voice abruptly changed. “He suddenly looks really angry… He’s coming over!”
Lan Xi stopped in front of the bodyguard. “I want to go back.”
The bodyguard drove Lan Xi back. When they passed a restaurant, he tried to placate him. “Mr. Lan Xi, would you like a seafood feast?”
Lan Xi’s face remained dark. “No.”
The bodyguard shut his mouth.
Why is everyone angry? The helpless bodyguard gripped the steering wheel.
Half an hour later, the car stopped outside the residence.
Lan Xi stormed inside.
Grimshaw was choosing a mate for his shark. Seeing Lan Xi return, he looked surprised. “What’s wrong? Was it too boring outside?”
The furious Lan Xi stopped and leaned over to look at the tablet in Grimshaw’s hands. Several photographs of sharks filled the screen.
Lan Xi’s attention was captured. Temporarily suppressing his anger, he pointed. “What is this?”
Grimshaw had someone bring over a translator and explained, “I’m trying to solve the shark’s problem with being in heat.”
Lan Xi pointed at one of the photographs. “It’ll like that one.”
Grimshaw had no idea why Lan Xi sounded so certain, but he didn’t mind indulging him.
He immediately smiled. “All right.”
Lan Xi asked again, “Will they have baby sharks?”
“They will.”
“I want one,” Lan Xi said softly.
Grimshaw’s eyes lit up. He agreed with almost excessive eagerness. “Sure! I’ll give you a baby shark when the time comes!”
Fu Hui had only just finished his meeting.
He calculated that almost forty minutes had passed since the bodyguard reported Lan Xi was angry and heading back. Even if Lan Xi had crawled like a turtle, he should have arrived by now.
Half annoyed and half amused, Fu Hui walked out. Before he could even ask, he saw Lan Xi huddled together with Grimshaw, enthusiastically discussing sharks.
Fu Hui: “…”
They couldn’t even speak the same language, yet they were forcing a conversation through a translator.
Is it really that interesting? So interesting that you’ve forgotten why you came back?
Fu Hui approached silently and tapped the arm of the sofa.
Lan Xi and Grimshaw both turned.
The moment Lan Xi saw him, his brows immediately furrowed.
“What? Am I interrupting you?” Fu Hui pressed a hand to the top of Lan Xi’s head.
Even Grimshaw could sense that something was wrong with the atmosphere. He looked at Lan Xi, then himself, then Fu Hui.
He seemed to understand something and quickly explained, “Lan Xi really likes sharks. We were only talking about giving him one.”
Fu Hui coldly declared, “He can’t keep one.”
Lan Xi’s eyes flickered. He said nothing and merely tilted his head toward Grimshaw.
Grimshaw thought Lan Xi was hinting for him to plead on his behalf.
Instead, Lan Xi suddenly asked, “Are you very rich?”
Before Grimshaw could answer, Fu Hui scooped Lan Xi straight off the sofa and carried him away.
Grimshaw looked somewhat frightened.
Did I do something wrong? I didn’t, did I?
Fu Hui carried Lan Xi back to their room. His gaze swept across the bed and sofa before he ultimately chose the bed, dropped Lan Xi onto it, and straightened him into a seated position.
“Where are the business cards I had printed for you?” Fu Hui asked first.
Lan Xi pointed at his pocket.
Fu Hui took them out and glanced at them. “How many did you hand out?”
Lan Xi answered without the slightest shame. “Two.”
Fu Hui subtly choked.
Should I be grateful he didn’t hand the entire stack out like flyers?
Fu Hui asked, “Why did you give those people your business cards?”
Lan Xi was extremely arrogant. “They’re mine. I decide!”
After saying that, he pointed at himself. “Now it’s my turn to ask you.”
Fu Hui looked at him with amusement. “All right. What do you want to ask?”
“What did you say to Oliver?”
Fu Hui found this even more amusing. “He complained to you?”
Lan Xi immediately seized on it. “So you did say something to him!”
Fu Hui’s tone was flat. “Yes. I told him not to call again. He listened very well.”
“That’s because you’re scary.”
“I’m scary?” Fu Hui leaned closer. “If I were really scary, I would’ve had someone drag you back, tied you to the bed, and kept you from leaving for days.”
Fu Hui hadn’t wanted to speak so crudely.
But if he tried to be subtle, Lan Xi wouldn’t understand at all.
Just as Fu Hui was wondering whether what he had said sounded a little too vicious—
Lan Xi immediately flopped onto the bed. “Then do it.”
Fu Hui: “…”
Lan Xi urged, “Come on.”
He was completely righteous about it and not afraid in the slightest.
It made a person want to chew him up and swallow him whole just to calm the emotions he stirred.
Fu Hui hauled him upright and locked him against his chest. “You’ve only met Oliver once…”
“Twice,” Lan Xi corrected.
“…” Fu Hui steadied himself. “Is he that important? Important enough that you came back specifically to question me?”
Lan Xi froze and felt as though Fu Hui was shifting the blame.
But this was a question he could answer.
Lan Xi said, “Mm. Fairly important.”
Fu Hui stopped speaking.
Lan Xi secretly looked at him.
He seemed angry.
He can’t even handle the truth? Lan Xi secretly pouted. Fragile seraph.
The room fell silent.
Who is more important, Oliver or me? The words reached Fu Hui’s lips before he swallowed them.
Because asking it would be ridiculous.
It sounded exactly like the nonsensical question of some inexperienced boy who had only just fallen in love. The level of stupidity was practically equal to, If X and I both fell into the water, who would you save?
Fu Hui suddenly realized something. Perhaps Lan Xi had simply forgotten Wen Yue because Wen Yue wasn’t important… Wen Yue, Oliver… maybe there was no meaningful difference between them in Lan Xi’s eyes.
But why?
Why did Lan Xi still keep approaching those people?
At first, Lan Xi had developed a kind of path dependence: whoever had money, if they picked him up, he went with them.
But Lan Xi wasn’t free-range anymore!
Fu Hui reminded him, “We’ve slept together.”
Lan Xi: “Mm-hm.”
Exactly. You’re not even worth anything anymore, and I’m still staying with you. So what are you angry about?
“Do you know what other people think our relationship is?”
“Mm?”
“You belong to me.”
“Why don’t you belong to me?” Lan Xi countered.
Fu Hui was momentarily stumped, but he didn’t particularly care. He quickly said, “Fine. We belong to each other. So at least while this relationship continues, we can only have each other. Understand?”
Lan Xi looked at him regretfully.
So that means I can’t fool around with Fu Hui while also fooling around with other seraphs?
He had only praised Fu Hui for being generous yesterday. What a waste of praise.
Lan Xi sighed. “Sigh.”
Fu Hui: “…” Why is he sighing?
Lan Xi obediently said, “I understand.”
Fu Hui still couldn’t feel happy.
Does he really understand, or does he only say he understands?
Lan Xi could always produce some “surprise” in the least expected place.
But afterward, Lan Xi genuinely seemed to become more obedient. He didn’t even ask again why Fu Hui wouldn’t let him keep a baby shark.
He stopped going to the café and stopped going to the beach.
He only sat quietly and fiddled with his phone.
He wasn’t particularly good at using a phone either.
He barely had any entertainment apps installed. It had practically become nothing more than a tool for contacting people.
Fang Nianqing was messaging Lan Xi.
Wen Lan had finally gone back to school. Fang Nianqing photographed him and sent it to Lan Xi: [Isn’t this you???]
Lan Xi replied with a voice message: [No.]
Fang Nianqing seemed to suffer an enormous shock on the other end and didn’t send another message for quite a while.
Wen Ming had messaged him too, but every time he sent something, he retracted it.
Lan Xi stared at the chat for ages, watching [The other person is typing…] repeatedly appear and disappear.
He clicked his tongue.
Then, bored, he rolled the phone back and forth in his palm.
He seemed to be thinking about something.
As he thought, he slumped over the table. His pointed chin soon became slightly red from pressing against the rosewood surface.
Even Fu Hui thought he looked intensely pitiful.
He put down what he was holding and walked over. “Want me to take you out?”
Lan Xi actually hesitated. He raised his eyes toward Fu Hui. “I gave away two business cards. Do you know why nobody called me?”
That pitiful aura instantly vanished.
But Lan Xi looked at him with extraordinary concentration, as though absolutely certain Fu Hui understood everything and would be able to give him the correct answer.
Fu Hui gathered together the scraps of sympathy he had lost and managed to recover a little of it.
“Maybe they were busy today and didn’t have time,” Fu Hui lied.
Lan Xi disliked the answer.
Wouldn’t that mean he wasn’t attractive enough?
Lan Xi declared, “How is that possible?”
Fu Hui hadn’t expected to fail at comforting him even slightly. He changed direction. “If you only want friends… everyone living in this house can keep you company.”
After thinking, he added, “When we return to Jing City, I’ll introduce you to some people your age…”
Lan Xi suddenly gave him a sidelong look. “Does this have something to do with you?”
Oliver had been too afraid of Fu Hui to approach him.
What about the others?
Lan Xi had no idea how Fu Hui could possibly be powerful enough to interfere. Fu Hui hadn’t even seen the two people who received his business cards.
Perhaps that was simply what made seraphs so formidable.
Lan Xi darted closer and tilted his head to examine Fu Hui’s expression. “Why aren’t you talking?”
“Oh. You feel guilty…”
“It is because of you!”
Fu Hui pressed a hand to his head, feeling the soft hair beneath his palm, and admitted it. “Yes. It has something to do with me.”
Lan Xi frowned. “Domineering.”
Now that Lan Xi had discovered it, Fu Hui was completely open. “Mm. I am.”
Lan Xi was stunned. Wasn’t that supposed to be one of a demon’s virtues? How did an angel steal it?
Fu Hui misread his shock and lifted Lan Xi out of the chair.
When Lan Xi didn’t struggle and simply yielded completely, holding him produced an inexplicable, intense sense of satisfaction.
Fu Hui gently stroked along his back and reminded him warmly, “Lan Xi, you were the one who approached me. You were the one who chose me.”
So what exactly was wrong with Fu Hui being domineering and strict?
Fu Hui convinced himself very easily.
“Forget it,” Lan Xi suddenly said.
Fu Hui froze.
Lan Xi wasn’t angry, which was genuinely beyond his expectations.
Lan Xi remained quiet all evening.
While Fu Hui worked, Lan Xi leaned against his leg and dozed, behaving so well it was almost uncanny. It inspired tenderness while simultaneously making Fu Hui vaguely uneasy.
Is this a lingering reaction from him making me angry too often? Why does him behaving well feel wrong too?
Fu Hui closed his laptop and lowered his head. “Sleep?”
Lan Xi made a faint sound. “Mm.”
“Take a bath?”
Lan Xi didn’t move.
Fu Hui could only carry him into the bathroom.
Even then, Lan Xi remained draped over him as though he had no bones, refusing even to sit properly in the bathtub.
Fu Hui, truthfully, rather enjoyed Lan Xi depending on him completely and allowing himself to be handled.
If it were anyone else, Fu Hui would have thought, Do you not have hands of your own?
Because it was Lan Xi, Fu Hui climbed into the tub with him and began washing him.
Only after his bath and being carried back to bed did Lan Xi finally regain some energy.
He lay beneath the soft blankets. The bedding was decorated in a European vintage style, making his features look even more beautiful, while his eyes shone like stars.
He rested one hand on Fu Hui’s shoulder and seriously asked, “Did you learn anything new?”
Anything new…?
Fu Hui immediately understood what Lan Xi meant.
Even now, Fu Hui couldn’t understand how Lan Xi could look at him with such innocent eyes while naturally sending signals like this.
He lowered his head and kissed Lan Xi.
They had kissed more than once already, but each time Lan Xi’s lips somehow seemed softer and fuller.
Lan Xi familiarly parted his lips and hooked his arms around Fu Hui’s waist.
Fu Hui had once been a person who never swore and never said anything obscene.
Of course, that was no longer true.
Meeting Lan Xi’s expectant gaze, Fu Hui leaned against his ear and asked hoarsely, “Have you ever seen beasts mate?”
Lan Xi shook his head.
Fu Hui said nothing more. He lowered his head, caught a patch of pale pink skin at Lan Xi’s neck between his teeth, and began imitating the behavior of a beast.
By dawn, Lan Xi’s entire body was flushed red.
He had even pulled down the canopy hanging beside the bed.
At seven-thirty in the morning, a bodyguard hurriedly knocked. “Sir, something has happened back home that requires you to return.”
Fu Hui didn’t even have time to properly clean Lan Xi up. He put him into fresh clothes and carried him straight into the car.
The private jet had a shower anyway.
When the car started moving, Lan Xi drowsily opened his eyes. “Where are we going?”
“Back home.” Fu Hui lowered his head and touched his forehead. Fortunately, Lan Xi didn’t have a fever.
Lan Xi suddenly woke completely. “Let me go.”
Fu Hui assumed he had gone too far the previous night and naturally released him.
Lan Xi immediately opened the car door and climbed out.
“You still want to play?” That was Fu Hui’s first thought.
Lan Xi raised a hand instead. “Bye-bye.”
Fu Hui: “…?”
His eyes narrowed slightly as he carefully studied Lan Xi’s expression. Tentatively, he said, “I’ll leave the bodyguards with you. You can stay here for another two days at most…”
Lan Xi interrupted. “No.”
Fu Hui’s tone sank. “What do you mean?”
Lan Xi’s face plainly said, Do I really have to spell this out?
All right. Maybe this would make the whole thing more ceremonial… This was how they always did it on television.
Lan Xi patted Fu Hui’s shoulder. “You go. We’re over.”
The vague unease that had lingered in Fu Hui’s heart finally landed completely at that moment.
“I didn’t hear you clearly. Say it again.” Fu Hui’s tone remained relatively calm.
Lan Xi gave him a strange look. “Mm. Our relationship is over!”
Because Lan Xi was somewhat reluctant to give him up, he had slept with Fu Hui one last time. And it had felt wonderful. Lan Xi was refreshed and overwhelmingly happy.
Especially when he thought about throwing Fu Hui aside and regaining absolute freedom.
That made him even happier.
At the thought, Lan Xi awkwardly pressed his thighs together.
Something was slipping downward.
Fu Hui genuinely laughed from anger this time.
Even like this, Lan Xi hadn’t forgotten to sleep with him one final time before leaving?
“You plan to stay here?” Fu Hui did his utmost to keep his emotions steady and his tone calm.
Lan Xi thought he talked far too much, but since Fu Hui currently looked unusually reasonable, Lan Xi mercifully answered him. “Mm-hm.”
“What are you staying here to do? Hand business cards to everyone?” Fu Hui could no longer completely suppress the anger at the end of his sentence.
Lan Xi became annoyed and gave him a sidelong look. “What does it have to do with you?” Their relationship was already over.
Fu Hui swallowed his anger and flattened his voice again. “That isn’t possible, Lan Xi. You don’t understand. If you stay here too long, that becomes an illegal stay. The local immigration authorities will deport you. In the end, you’ll still be sent back into my hands.”
What… illegal what-stay?
What immigration-thing?
Lan Xi understood none of it.
This stupid Heaven! Why are there so many rules?!
Fu Hui looked at Lan Xi’s faint confusion, his unhappiness, and the awkward way he was still keeping his legs pressed together.
Anger, an intensely sour jealousy, and tenderness twisted together with countless cold thoughts inside Fu Hui.
The emotions came so violently that they swallowed him in an instant.
Fu Hui didn’t fight them.
Maintaining even this much composure had already consumed a great deal of his reason.
“Lan Xi.” He called his name softly. “Do you know what deportation involves? You’ll be forcibly detained and kept with people of all different races. The food will be terrible, you’ll sleep badly, the transport will be terrible, and you may even be yelled at and hit.”
After saying that, Fu Hui gave Lan Xi no chance to react. He stepped out of the car, picked him up again, and coaxed him quietly. “We’ll go home first. We can talk after we get back.”
As for what happened after they returned…
Everything would be up to him.
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